United racked up a 6-0 success against Swansea in the opening home Barclays Premier Reserves League encounter at Altrincham's Moss Lane with Darren Fletcher getting another 90 minutes under his belt.

The Reds took little time to open the scoring as an incisive move allowed Davide Petrucci to pick out his fellow Italian Federico Macheda for a simple finish.Paul Pogba doubled the lead when drifting into the box from his right-wing station to display an outstanding first touch to set up a clinical drive past Jose Moreira. The home side were in the ascendancy with Pogba showing flashes that oozed class and Mame Biram Diouf looking sharp in attack.

Diouf stole possession to belt a shot just wide and a goal seemed certain when Petrucci's pass sprung the offside trap to release Larnell Cole but Macheda passed up a tap-in from the winger's centre, instead screwing wide. Pogba picked up a yellow card but there were plenty of positives about his performance as his perfectly-timed pass fed Diouf but Moreira saved well. Another Pogba cross saw Petrucci bamboozle Moreira only to see his finish blocked. However, a third goal did arrive in first-half injury time when Diouf stormed through to calmly find the net.

The second period brought more one-way traffic and Diouf got on the scoresheet again with a similar strike, haring in on goal and shooting home despite taking a painful knock. The Senegalese striker passed up two opportunities to seal his hat-trick when blazing over and forcing a stunning save from Moreira following a Pogba cross.

But substitute Jesse Lingard got in on the act when exploding a right-foot volley into the net with seven minutes remaining after intelligent play by Will Keane. And Keane, another substitute, strolled onto a Diouf flick in stoppage time to stroke a relaxed finish wide of Moreira to complete the rout.

“Let’s not underestimate the other teams. They are very good teams and there are a lot of games to play before the end of the season. We’re in a good position. But that means nothing if you don’t win the next game.” - Dimitar Berbatov

United*went top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North as Mame Biram Diouf scored both goals in a 2-1 success against Fulham.

The former Molde attacker now has five goals at this level this term and his finishing prowess proved to be the difference between the two teams at a blustery Moss Lane.

The Cottagers carved out a couple of early chances with Courtney Harris heading over and danger-man Marcello Trotta forcing a diving stop out of Ben Amos. Although the Reds were on top, most of the nervous moments for visiting keeper Marcus Bettinelli were created by his own defenders, while Diouf could only fire off target after turning well on a header from fit-again Matty James.

After trialist Tom Naylor blazed across goal from a tight angle, the deadlock was broken at the other end when Dan Burn failed to deal with a long ball forward by captain Ezekiel Fryers and Diouf stole in before Bettinelli. Timing his finish to perfection, the Senegal striker waited for the ball to bounce before bravely looping a header into the net.

Substitute Davide Petrucci hammered off target from a Paul Pogba cross as United continued to call the shots but Federico Macheda picked up a yellow card for an off-the-ball incident with Joshua Pritchard. Burn headed a rare opportunity for Fulham wide before United looked to wrap up another victory.

Sean McGinty's header forced a great save out of Bettinelli and Reece Brown was denied from the rebound by a handball by the diving Ronnie Minkwitz on the line.

With no penalty forthcoming, the Reds kept probing and Marnick Vermijl was unlucky to see a prodded shot deflect inches wide following a solo run that took him past a couple of defenders.

It was left to Diouf to finish off a neat move involving Petrucci and Pogba by slamming in from close range with his left foot for the eventual winner. The Cottagers made a fight of it in the closing stages as Kerim Frei blasted an unstoppable*drive past Amos from the edge of the area, but Warren Joyce's side comfortably held out for another three points.

Machedas been disappointing, Dioufs occupied the Fulham CB's. Pogba looks class, Coles had a few nice moments. Fulhams take control of the midfield and put our goal under pressure. Pretty scrappy game so far.

Quote:

Originally Posted by datura

A competitive game but not the highest quality. Pogba the star. Diouf was a constant threat.

United's winning start to the Manchester Senior Cup continued with a hard-fought victory over Rochdale.

Federico*Macheda bagged the second-half winner for Warren Joyce's side, after Will Keane's opener had been cancelled out by Dale's Neal Trotman.

The Reds fielded four Italians in the XI*and had to battle for supremacy, although Keane fired one chance wide following outstanding approach work by Paul Pogba in midfield and Davide Petrucci whistled a drive*off target.

David Lucas saved from Macheda and*Petrucci but was beaten six minutes before*the interval. Macheda's thrust down the left*forced a great stop out of Lucas and Keane converted the rebound at the second attempt with an improvised, scooped*finish that illustrated his composure.

Tomasz Kuszczak kept the scores level by thwarting Reece Gray and Ahmad Benali but had no chance when Neal Trotman powered home a header from a Brian Barry-Murphy free-kick on the right. United were spurred to retaliate against impressive, combative opponents but Diouf lashed a left-footed shot over the top*and Keane hooked a defence-splitting pass from the increasingly influential Petrucci wide.

After Diouf was unlucky with a flick from a Pogba free-kick, superb strength from Keane allowed Macheda to bag the winner as the Italian striker's shot spun off the hand of Lucas and rolled over the line. Diouf was too unselfish when played in by Pogba and Macheda saw another attempt scrambled behind by Lucas but United were unable to kill Dale off. And there was a late scare when Benali's trickery on the right led to substitute Ola Radbiu blazing over from close range.